# Guess what THIS veteran is doing this Veteran's Day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359 "2018-11-11T17:39:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/21 "2018-11-12T05:46:54Z")
In honor of Veterans Day, this reminiscence by Kurt Vonnegut, from his Cat’s Cradle: > [@](#): > > So this book is a sidewalk strewn with junk, trash which I throw over my shoulders as I travel in time back to November eleventh, nineteen hundred and twenty-two. > I will come to a time in my backwards trip when November eleventh, accidentally my birthday, was a sacred day called Armistice Day. When I was a boy, and when Dwayne Hoover was a boy, all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month. > > It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind. > > Armistice Day has become Veterans’ Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans’ Day is not. > > So I will throw Veterans’ Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don’t want to throw away any sacred things. > > What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance. > > And all music is. And, from his Mother Night: > [@](#): > > “Oh, it’s just so damn cheap, so damn typical.” I said, “This used to be a day in honor of the dead of World War One, but the living couldn’t keep their grubby hands off of it, wanted the glory of the dead for themselves. So typical, so typical. Any time anything of real dignity appears in this country, it’s torn to shreds and thrown to the mob.” ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/22 "2018-11-12T12:34:12Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > My wife is South Korean and she finds it rather amusing that we call anyone who served in the military a veteran. In her country, only people who’ve been in combat are veterans. In the US, only people who’ve been in combat are veterans. The fact that every person who has so much as enlisted gets FALSELY CALLED “veteran”, doesn’t MAKE them one. Watching Americans give false honor and false glory to themselves personally, as they accumulate fake virtue points by pretending to honor the fake veterans, is either funny or sickening, or both. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/23 "2018-11-12T12:36:53Z")
Which branch did you serve in Dravid? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/24 "2018-11-12T12:59:52Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > In the US, only people who’ve been in combat are veterans. The fact that every person who has so much as enlisted gets FALSELY CALLED “veteran”, doesn’t MAKE them one. > > Watching Americans give false honor and false glory to themselves personally, as they accumulate fake virtue points by pretending to honor the fake veterans, is either funny or sickening, or both. Serving in the military but not seeing combat means you’re not a veteran? So what are the conditions? I mean I knew a lot of people that were in the Navy on my ship for Desert Storm, but nothing was shot at the USS Ranger despite actually being in the Persian Gulf. By your judgement, are they vets or false vets? My father served during Korea, never actually got close to combat, so not a vet? Me, I was only Cold War, nothing hot, so I will have to resign myself as false vet in your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/25 "2018-11-12T13:14:18Z")
We were going to take my father-in-law, who is a Korean War vet, out for breakfast on Sunday, but I woke up with a sore throat and we had to postpone. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > Hey, I thought it was _tomorrow_ we were supposed to shop! Since it’s the Federal holiday and all. There is large furniture chain who runs a ton of TV ads every holiday for their “Big \ Day Sale!” Then at the very end of the ads in that really fast disclaimer voice they use so they hope you don’t notice, “Closed \ Day.” I guess it’s a good thing that employees get to enjoy the holiday but it always strikes me as odd that the store is closed on the specific day that they are advertising a Big Sale for. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/26 "2018-11-12T14:18:28Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > In the US, only people who’ve been in combat are veterans. The fact that every person who has so much as enlisted gets FALSELY CALLED “veteran”, doesn’t MAKE them one. I’ve never heard this before, and I think it’s a load of crap. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/27 "2018-11-12T15:34:39Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > In the US, only people who’ve been in combat are veterans. The fact that every person who has so much as enlisted gets FALSELY CALLED “veteran”, doesn’t MAKE them one. > > Watching Americans give false honor and false glory to themselves personally, as they accumulate fake virtue points by pretending to honor the fake veterans, is either funny or sickening, or both. Cite? It’s been 35+ years since I was on active duty and 25+ years since I was a drilling reservist and I suffer from PSF (post-service forgetfulness) so my remarks should be taken with hypertension-inducing levels of salt (I was Navy and am old so I could be called “an old salt”). Anyways, Title 38 U.S. Code Chapter 1 VETERANS’ BENEFITS PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS states: (2) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (Since the site pages have been reorganized, I can’t find the ATMB section [12?] to make links.) **DavidwithanR** ’s remark about seeing combat defining veteran status brings to mind SF-171, the application for federal jobs, which asked about veteran status and granted veteran preference points for service during defined periods of conflict. To sum up, a member who served in the military during a defined period of conflict is a subset of members who served in the military, both of which are in the set of veterans. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/28 "2018-11-12T16:56:38Z")
I’m a longtime reservist, not a “veteran” by any measure, and I was in uniform on parade in Place du Canada. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/29 "2018-11-12T17:11:23Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > Cite? > It’s been 35+ years since I was on active duty and 25+ years since I was a drilling reservist and I suffer from PSF (post-service forgetfulness) so my remarks should be taken with hypertension-inducing levels of salt (I was Navy and am old so I could be called “an old salt”). > Anyways, Title 38 U.S. Code Chapter 1 VETERANS’ BENEFITS PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS states: > (2) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (Since the site pages have been reorganized, I can’t find the ATMB section [12?] to make links.) > > **DavidwithanR** ’s remark about seeing combat defining veteran status brings to mind SF-171, the application for federal jobs, which asked about veteran status and granted veteran preference points for service during defined periods of conflict. > > To sum up, a member who served in the military during a defined period of conflict is a subset of members who served in the military, both of which are in the set of veterans. He can’t cite what is a dumb-ass opinion. He would have to cite himself and he would then probably hurt himself. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/30 "2018-11-12T18:31:41Z")
I go to a bar that gives veterans their first beer for free. I try to get there early enough to pay for their second. Others have copied me over the years. The end result is that they can drink as much as they want without spending any money. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/31 "2018-11-12T18:44:28Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I’ve never heard this before, and I think it’s a load of crap. Ditto. My wife works for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA), and she agrees. She (and I) are also both veterans – she was a Navy nurse, and I was a submarine officer. > [@dba\_Fred](#): > > …Anyways, Title 38 U.S. Code Chapter 1 VETERANS’ BENEFITS PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS states: > (2) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. > > …To sum up, a member who served in the military during a defined period of conflict is a subset of members who served in the military, both of which are in the set of veterans. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/32 "2018-11-12T19:02:53Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The ad said 20% off for all veterans with ID card. So I went and told the salesman what I wanted, but when I showed him my retired ID card, he said “Oh, sorry, it only applies to active duty.” I wonder if he tells people with an proof of active duty “oh, sorry, if you’re active duty you’re not a veteran yet, and that’s who we’re celebrating on Veteran’s Day.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/33 "2018-11-12T19:14:06Z")
Thank you for the Vonnegut quote, **Captain Amazing.** I shopped this morning for a Napa cabbage, a lime, a chile, and a half-pound of shrimp, because I’m making Tom yum soup tonight. Is that okay? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/34 "2018-11-12T19:20:15Z")
I must admit, while I look forward to DavidwithanR coming back and admitting he just made up his own definition of “veteran”, and was talking out of his ass as usual, I also owe him some gratitude. I’ve struggled a bit with that whole “Did ya deploy?” aspect of veteran status. Intellectually I’ve come to accept that deployment is not necessary to be a vet, but still… And then our boy drops that turd and I was like, “Hey now! I did my bit and carved out a chunk of my life–don’t be taking that label away from me!” ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/35 "2018-11-12T19:34:27Z")
They have Veterans day sales now? Shows how much I pay attention. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/36 "2018-11-13T07:28:54Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > They have Veterans day sales now? Shows how much I pay attention. Hell, they have Memorial Day sales. Gee, sure am glad soldiers died so I can get that discount on carpet shampoo. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/37 "2018-11-13T13:02:50Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Hey, I thought it was _tomorrow_ we were supposed to shop! Since it’s the Federal holiday and all. > > The Firebug and I ran some errands today, wasn’t a heavy shopper though, just this and that. > > Tried to decide whether we’ve gotten any wiser since November 11, 1918. Too soon to tell, I guess. It’s taking longer than we thought… ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/38 "2018-11-13T13:53:21Z")
Not Veterans Day here, rather Armistice Day, and I’m not a vet, and I did go shopping (to the supermarket). But at 11am, the tannoy in the large supermarket invited everyone to stand and hold a two minute silence. And we all did. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/39 "2018-11-13T14:00:08Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I must admit, while I look forward to DavidwithanR coming back and admitting he just made up his own definition of “veteran”, and was talking out of his ass as usual, I also owe him some gratitude. I’ve struggled a bit with that whole “Did ya deploy?” aspect of veteran status. Intellectually I’ve come to accept that deployment is not necessary to be a vet, but still… And then our boy drops that turd and I was like, “Hey now! I did my bit and carved out a chunk of my life–don’t be taking that label away from me!” A friend of mine spent Desert Storm getting planes loaded with shipments to the war zone. He was as proud of that certificate of service (I’m sure that’s not its proper name) as he was of his engineering degree, if not more. The people in the frontlines can’t do much shooting if the bullets haven’t gotten there, and that means someone has to do the loading. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359/40 "2018-11-13T14:19:23Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > But at 11am, the tannoy in the large supermarket invited everyone to stand and hold a two minute silence. And we all did. TIL what a tannoy is. (What we’d call a PA or public address system. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-this-veteran-is-doing-this-veterans-day/824359.md?page=3)